BY JOE PAYNE

Chris Lambert wrote the songs and music for "Warp & Woof," while owner of Certain Sparks Studio Randall Sena produced and played on the project released at the end of July.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS LAMBERT

Local singer/songwriter Chris Lambert has cut many albums over the years, some produced and recorded by himself at his own studio, but he decided to record the entirety of his latest album at Certain Sparks Studio in Lompoc.

No stranger to Certain Sparks and owner Randall Sena, Lambert wanted a different sound on this album than previous projects, so he brought Sena in as both a co-producer and musician on the album. Usually an acoustic guitar-toting folk artist, Lambert wanted a driving electric sound for the album.

The album name Warp & Woof is also the artist name for the project, which primarily includes Lambert, Sena, and local drummer Sam Cole.

“A lot of my stuff tends to be in the folk realm, which is another reason why I didn’t release it as Chris Lambert,” he said.

Warp & Woof was recorded between June 2013 and April of this year and was released at the end of July. The title informs several aspects of the album. The name comes from a term used to describe the intercrossing threads in a fabric, with lengthwise threads (the warp) and crossing threads (the woof) weaving together to make a pattern.

“As a sort of play on words; it also describes the two main guitar sounds we used on the album,” Lambert said. “On all the clean guitars we did a wobbly tape effect, we called that the warp effect, and the loud overdrive and distorted guitars, we called that the woof.”

Give a listen

Warp & Woof is for sale on iTunes, Amazon.com, or can be bought directly at warpandwoof.bandcamp.com.

The two distinct sounds interplay together on the album, creating a cohesive sound from the last track to the first. Road trips and the resulting exhaustion that comes from long bouts of driving characterize the album’s theme.

“It’s kind of a tour of the American Southwest and the kind of stuff you see there, like the desert,” Lambert said. “And the weird stuff you see or think about while driving at night that ties into UFOs or Area 51, atomic bomb explosions, and the paranoia that goes with knowing about all that stuff.”

Recorded locally

Certain Sparks offers recording sessions and music lessons in Lompoc at 326 N. H St. More information is available at 588-9479, info@certainsparks.com, or certainsparks.com.

The driving theme is most apparent in the rhythm throughout the album. Each track, fast or slow, has a strong rhythmic foundation, which provides the stitching that keeps the distorted guitars and Lambert’s declarative tenor lines unified. Sam Cole—who is known locally from the band St. Anne’s Place—does a fantastic job on the drums, and so does Ace Elias, who drums on three of the album’s tracks. Also on the album is local vocalist Rachel Mariscal, who provides backup vocals on several songs.

“I’ve known Randall [Sena] for a long time, but this is the first time we have done a whole album together, so he was pretty much the engineer and co-producer for the whole thing,” Lambert said. “We talked a lot while we were recording it, that no one song sounds exactly like one artist. There are things that sound like grunge, some ’90s pop punk, indie rock, and emo as it was known in the early ’90s.”

Get ready for the showcase

Lezlie’s Showcase of Talent features music, comedy, and dancers on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria. Cost is $15, $10 for kids. More information is available at 268-5403 or lezliesshowcaseoftalent.com.

Jazz with a Brazilian twist

The Lompoc Library District Foundation presents Concerts on the Library Lawn including a performance by Choro de Ouro on Aug. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lompoc Public Library, 501 E. North Ave., Lompoc. Free. More info: libraryfoundation@blackgold.org.

Sharing music and words

The Bookworm presents an open mic event every second Saturday of the month with featured performer Michael McLaughlin on Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. at The Bookworm, 230 E. Betteravia Road, suite K, Santa Maria. More info: 922-4282, quest@thebookwormcali.com, or facebook.com/thebookwormcali.

Let the sun shine

The Chumash Casino Resort presents KC and the Sunshine Band performing live on Aug. 7 at 8 p.m. Cost is $35, $45, and $55. The Chumash Casino Resort is located at 2400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez.

Jazz in the Garden happens at the Solvang Festival Theater Under the Oaks, including Teka performing Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. at the Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. More information is available at solvangfestivaltheater.org.

Park yourself

Concerts in the Park is a free concert series featuring live music, including the Drive-In Romeos performing live on Aug. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park, Santa Maria. Free. More information is available at 925-0951, Ext. 260, dsmitherman@cityofsantamaria.org, or cityofsantamaria.org.

Fresh at D’Vine

The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro features regular live music, including Jerry Stickell performing Aug. 7, Mike Shelton on Aug. 9, Tony Botello on Aug. 12, and Emily Wryn on Aug. 13. Shows happen at 7:30 p.m. at D’Vine, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More information is available at 430-8356 or facebook.com.

Blues that rocks

The Radisson Hotel presents live music every Friday and Saturday, including Juan Marquez performing on Aug. 8 and 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. The Radisson in Santa Maria is at 3455 Skyway Drive. More info: 928-8000.

Live on Blacklake

The Blacklake Golf Resort presents a Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series featuring the Nataly Lola Band on Aug. 13. The Blacklake Golf Resort is located at 1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo. More info: 343-1214, Ext. 400, or blacklake.com.

The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend including a performance by Teddy Spanke and the Tex Pistols on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Blues Bob and the Loopy Blues Band is Aug. 9 and Aug. 10, both at 3 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.